Q: Though Congress didn't pass a health-care bill this session, where do you stand on the issue? Do you feel like the nation needs health reform? What are the key components, in your opinion, to a viable reform plan?
A: Our nation clearly needs health-care reform. Many families cannot afford insurance. Millions of Americans are afraid of losing their insurance if they change jobs or are laid off. Others cannot get insurance because of a pre-existing condition. My goals for health-care reform include: bringing health insurance within the reach of all Americans, long-term care and prescription drug coverage. I believe achieving these goals consistent with maintaining the quality of care and choice Americans have come to
expect. I also have filed legislation to update the Medicaid funding formula to better reflect state needs. The funding formula contained in my bill was recommended by the General Accounting Office and would yield Florida about $280 million more per year.
Q: Do you support or oppose bans on assault weapons?
A: I support tough, mandatory sentences for anyone committing a crime with a gun. I voted for minimum mandatory sentences for crimes committed with firearms. As a member of the state Senate, I supp
orted placing the question of the three-day waiting period on the ballot because I wanted Floridians to have a right to vote for the requirement. I did not support the ban on so-called assault weapons, which passed the Congress.
Q: At what point should the U.S. military get involved in humanitarian aid in other countries? At what point should the military be used to restore or build a democracy in another country?
A: Involving our military personnel in foreign conflicts should be a joint decision betw
een the president and Congress. Our humanitarian missions in Iraq and Somalia, fully supported by the United Nations, helped stave off mass starvation and brought hope to those troubled regions of the world. Helping people overcome a natural tragedy or a short-term crisis and "nation building" are two very different propositions. The latter naturally requires a tremendous commitment of personnel, resources and time. Before such a commitment is made, the president must clearly communicate how Amer
ica's vital national interest is served by such a mission and authorization must be secured through a resolution supported by both the House and Senate.
Q: What concrete actions can be done to expedite a reduction in the national debt?
A: The budget resolution passed in 1993 was a serious attempt to address the budget deficit. After 12 years of Republican leadership, the national debt had grown from $1 trillion to $4 trillion, and in 1992 the annual budget deficit reached $290 billion. Since the passage of the 1993 budget resolution, the deficit has been headed downward. In 1994, it will be about $200 billion, almost one-third lower than the record-high
deficit of $290 billion and $55 billion lower than the 1993 deficit. We also imposed what amounted to a mandatory five-year spending freeze on the part of the budget over which Congress has control. The House has cut 395 programs below last year's level and voted to terminate 36 others. Also, in addition to voting more than 50 times for individual cuts in appropriations bills, I also supported legislation to prevent add-ons or special projects from finding their way onto emergency spending bills. I also s
trongly support mandating that all spending cuts go toward the deficit and are not used for other programs.
Q: Should the United States take an active, leading role in protecting the international environment, such as rain forests?
A: We have and should continue to play a key role in helping other nations protect their national resources. A variety of ideas, including trading preservation for debt reduction and helping to promote sustainable development, have been advanced. Also, we have used our pivo
talposition within the World Bank structure to discourage loans in developing countries that fundamentally degrade the environment. America's participation in the environmental summit in Brazil and the population summit in Cairo demonstrate our commitment to finding answers to world environmental problems. I have personally been involved with the Pantanal/Everglades Exchange and Technical Training Program, in connection with the Center for Governmental Responsibility at the University of Florida's College
of Law.
The center designed the program to facilitate collaboration and exchange between researchers, technicians, policy-makers and the Everglades systems. The Pantanal is a large, relatively pristine wetlands system in Brazil. It is several times larger than the Everglades and is dependent upon a much larger watershed. My office has attempted to assist the center to locate funding to continue this much needed exchange program to help the people of Brazil preserve this unique ecosystem.
Q: Immigration continue
s to seriously affect Florida and its residents. What would you do to improve the obvious problem that strains both state and national resources?
A: Immigration is a federal issue. The people of Florida should not have to bear the burden because the federal government has failed to secure our borders. I have sponsored legislation that would force the federal government to reimburse our state for the costs associated with the 1980 Mariel boatlift, and I voted to provide $50 million for immigrant educatio
n,$11 million more than the previous year's allocation. For the first time, because of my efforts, the federal government recognized its obligation to assume the full responsibility for the costs of incarcerating illegal criminal aliens. Over the next six years, $1.8 billion will be allocated across the nation for this purpose. This year, $130 million has already been appropriated.
Q: What is your stance on abortion? Do you support federal prosecution of those who advocate violence in the anti-abortion o
r pro-life arena?
A: I believe a woman, in voluntary consultation with her physician, should have the freedom to choose to have an abortion. I also believe that the federal government should be neutral, to the greatest extent possible, in this area. The federal government should neither be encouraging, nor discouraging, the procedure of abortion. My goals in the health-care debate are universal coverage, and long-term care and prescription drug coverage.
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